Recent Reader Comments:

7/23/10 -

"I just finished reading Facing Bipolar and am overwhelmed with emotions.  I am 24 and was diagnosed with cyclothymia two years ago. While I have been through many of the initial shocks and have learned the hard way that I need to be on a schedule, this book provided me with a sense of relief I didn't have before.  Before reading your book, I felt alone. I don't know anyone my age or even close to it that struggles with mental health to the same extent.  So thank you.  Please know that your book changed my life.  I've read half a dozen books about being bipolar and yours is the one that really hit home. Thank you again for writing this much needed book that all young people dealing with bipolar disorder can relate to."

— Tiffany S.

6/2/10 — "The Best Book Around for Basic Information on Bipolar Disorder"

"Facing Bipolar gives straightforward information on how Bipolar works, what to do to manage it and what to expect. It isn't full of technical medical study information, but rather information that anyone, whether a "Young Adult" or "Adult" can use. I think I have read them all, this was the best. In fact, I recommended it to a therapist friend who works with the local schools and they went out and got two copies for the special ed area to read themselves."
— Anonymous ("Normster 75") — from Amazon.com

5/25/10 - "Excellent Resource"

"I found this book to be incredibly helpful. I am a student with bipolar disorder and have read more works on the disorder than I can count. This one stands out in particular for its ability to connect on a young adult's level and provide a detailed guide to how best to stay healthy. I highly recommend this work for anyone facing bipolar disorder."
— Anonymous ("Student") — from Amazon.com

3/28/10 - "Practical and Informative"

I bought this book for my 22 year old son who has bipolar disorder. I read it before I gave it to him. Written by 2 psychiatrists who work with bipolar young people, it is right on in understanding the disorder and learning to manage it and live with it. A real how-to book with down to earth facts and solutions.
— Anonymous ("Florida mom") — from Amazon.com

Recent Professional Reviews:

5/10/10

"As a clinical psychologist who has for years treated college students in their teens and twenties, I've learned how much easier it is for them to accept, face, and cope with emotional challenges promptly. The longer they wait, the more difficult it can be to learn to cope, the more bad decisions they can make, and the more irreversible can be the effects of on their lives. For young people and their parents who are concerned about bipolar disorder, this book is the very first thing I recommend. It's detailed, practical, readable, informative, useful, and accurate. The authors clearly know what it's like for young people to face a serious diagnosis, and they answer questions and give clear and structured guidance with honesty, clarity, and encouragement."
— Bob Miller, Ph.D., Charlottesville, Virginia

4/8/10

"As the title of this excellent new work indicates, Facing Bipolar addresses an individual's confrontation with a profoundly life-altering illness, which inevitably involves an array of challenges ranging from emotional acceptance to behavioral management. The authors have struck an admirable balance between addressing these various levels analytically and pragmatically, while articulating both their penetrating insights and concrete advice in a language and style that will be highly accessible to the adolescent to young adult target audience. A psychologist who has worked for many years with this population in college mental health settings, I have already recommended Facing Bipolar a number of times to patients as well as to their family members, for whom it also contains extremely useful information and guidance. In my view, the strength of the book lies in its keen perceptiveness regarding the particular reactions of the young person to a diagnosis of bipolar disorder and the special difficulties of lifestyle pressures, regulating personal actions, and adopting changed yet still positive expectations among that age group. I expect it to become an invaluable resource for professional practitioners and lay readers alike."
— Steven Dauer, Ph.D., Psychologist, Storrs, CT

4/9/10

"There are many books on bipolar disorder. None provides as much help as this one for the book's target audience, the young adult who needs to address the often extremely difficult experience of bipolar disorder. Individuals who love to read may get additional books, for more specialized knowledge. However, this book is probably the best place for the newly diagnosed individual to begin. For many individuals no additional reading will be needed. My perspective is that of a practicing clinical psychologist. This is the book I would want my own child to have."
— Arthur Horvath, Ph.D., ABPP, Psychologist, La Jolla, CA.

4/2/10

"As a psychologist who has worked in college and university counseling centers for over 20 years, I was delighted to find this wonderful resource for young adults with Bipolar Disorder and their friends, families, and loved ones. The authors offer an accessible and comprehensive guide based on the latest research and their many years of clinical experience. This book is destined to become a classic in the field."
— Steve Sprinkle,Ph.D., Psychologist and Director, Counseling Center, University of San Diego

3/01/10

"Drs. Federman & Thomson have written an emminently readable and understandable book of how to manage young adulthood with the challenges of Bipolar Disorder. I am finding it particularly helpful in working with my pre-college population and their parents who are facing their next life transition. i.e., college. The book is helpful in looking at what lies ahead, the challenges, and the solutions; an excellent addition to the small group of books that are actually of value.
— Jane Ross, PsyD, Psychologist, Durham, NC

Publisher's Weekly, starred review - 2/1/10

"A bipolar diagnosis is a life-changer, especially challenging for young adults whose lives are already in flux. Federman, Virginia Univ. Director of Counseling and Psychological Services, and psychiatrist Thomson present an excellent guide for the young and newly diagnosed, with the blunt but compassionate message to "hang in there. It's realistic to hope for a good life." With comprehensive insight, the duo capture the seductive excitement that accompanies the onset of a manic episode, and the spectrum of symptoms—from depression to full-blown psychosis—that follow if the condition is left untreated. They provide guidelines for choosing a therapist (for counseling) and a psychiatrist (for medication), review the range of drugs prescribed, and discuss the need for complete abstinence from alcohol and other mood-altering substances like marijuana. They also review the significant lifestyle changes required to control the "roller-coaster reality" that the disease engenders: getting a regular eight hours of sleep, implementing structure, restricting travel, etc. Federman and Thomson are realistic about the difficulty and isolation that can come with disease-necessitated restrictions, as well as the setbacks that can occur even when following all the rules; they're also entirely encouraging, demonstrating how bipolar disease can be met with optimism and determination."

Book Endorsements -

"Adjusting to the personal and social demands of high school, college, and the young adult years is more complex than it has ever been. And for today's adolescents and young adults with bipolar disorder, the challenges are even greater and the stakes even higher. With their book Facing Bipolar, Federman and Thomson provide us with an important new resource. Based on sound clinical research and the rich experience of two knowledgeable practitioners, the book speaks in a direct and easy-to-understand voice that addresses the everyday questions of those initially facing this disruptive disorder. I strongly recommend this high-impact resource for teens, young adults, and others confronting the reality of bipolar disorder, and for the bookshelves of the counselors, psychologists, and psychiatrists who treat them."
—Alan M. Schwitzer, Ph.D., Licensed Clinical Psychologist and Editor, Journal of College Counseling

"Federman and Thomson have written a very thoughtful and pragmatic book. Their poignant stories describe the critical processes of recognition and acceptance while their straightforward advice conveys important treatment strategies required to manage this complex condition. This really is a must-read for young adults coming to terms with bipolar disorder."
—Richard Kadison, MD, Chief ofHarvard University Mental Health Services and author"College of the Overwhelmed"

"In my work with college students who occasionally get derailed, I have found that no issue is more perplexing for the student and those that love them than the onset of bipolar disorder. Federman and Thomson provide a valuable frame of reference for making sense of the chaos that bipolar disorder can bring to the life of a college student. Students and family members will also find comfort and order in the sound words they provide."
—Penny Rue, Vice Chancellor of Student Affairs at the University of California, San Diego

"Being a young adult with bipolar disorder is challenging, and it's imperative to seek out good resources to successfully cope. Having read numerous books about bipolar, I've not found any others that are as clear and informative as this one. Federman and Thomson have truly provided the information necessary to living a healthy and happy life with bipolar disorder."
—Chadrick Lane, recent college graduate with bipolar disorder, mental health research fellow and MD candidate